Looking for a trusty dive computer without breaking the bank?
It’s a fine line between getting a good deal and skrimping. It’s integral to ensure you choose quality scuba gear.
The Mares Smart Air improves the original model, offering the perfect beginner dive computer sure to last years of diving.
- Air integration option
- Easy to use
- Great value
- Reliable and trusty brand
- There are better computers out there
- Doesn't have a good backlight
Table of Contents
Specifications
Mares Smart Air is the same as the Air, but it offers a Wireless Integration option.
- Nitrox compatible
- Intuitive user interface
- User changeable battery
- Gas switch possible (air and EANx only)
- Mineral gas display
- Large, easy-to-read numbers
- Backlit screen
- One-button menu navigation
- Mares-Wienke RGBM
- Freediving mode
- Adjustable salinity, conservatism, and altitude settings
- Dive time visible
- Surface interval visible
Dive Computers That You Might Like
Check out some of the other dive computers that I’ve reviewed.
Unboxing
The Mares Smart Air comes in a sleek yet simple cardboard box. There is a cardboard interior that perfectly fits around the dive computer, ensuring its safety as it makes its way to you!
In the box, you’ll find the dive computer, complete with the strap included and an easy-to-follow instructions manual.
Sadly, it does not come with a travel carry bag or any fun goodies, but you do get your money’s worth. As you’ll soon see, while the details on this particular device are fairly thin on the surface, it does more than a few clever tricks you’ll want to write home about.
Other Computers You May Like
If you want the finest quality then check my top dive computers list.
|
FOR NEW DIVERS
|
BEST ON A BUDGET
|
BEST OVERALL
|
|
4.0
|
4.5
|
5.0
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Performance
Diving
The Mares Smart Air is perfect for new and professional divers alike. It’s incredibly easy to use, packed with all the functions and tools you might need for scuba diving and free diving alike!
You can easily switch between detailed depth information, adjust the nitrox settings, and enjoy everything the watch has to offer up to 492 ft underwater – it goes deeper than many of its competitors.
You never have to worry about missing your decompression state. The entire middle row is dedicated to the current decompression, keeping you safe from dive to dive.
Gas switch is nice and easy, though this only works for air and EANx.
The Mares Smart Air also uses an RGBM (Reduced Gradient Bubble Model) to cut down on microbubbles popping up.
Display
The Mares Smart Air has a very clear, easy-to-read, and segmented display, making all the functions easy to see, no matter where you are! Of all the features packed into this little dive buddy, the fact you can easily see the massive numbers just about anywhere makes it seriously worthy of purchase.
The screen is backlit, making it perfect for night dives. It is also very strong! That way, if you trip or drag your wrist across a rocky area underwater, your dive computer will barely feel the knock. This is great for novice divers, in particular, who are just getting used to wearing and using a computer underwater.
The two-button menu navigation system is a massive highlight, as you won’t have to fiddle around with complex control settings on the move. It does mean that you’ll need to press the same button a few times in a row sometimes, but it’s definitely worth it for new divers who aren’t yet accustomed to the tech.
Beginners who are looking for one-button menu navigation that’s a little more streamlined will likely do well looking out for the Puck Pro – another entry-level device from Mares that more than pays for itself.
What’s also odd about the Smart Air watch is there’s no dive compass on board. There’s plenty of data on temperature and course – and naturally, there’s a timer – but it’s fairly directionless, as devices go. Something to keep in mind when you’re comparing.
Durability
The Mares Smart Air is built to last! In fact, for professionals who do between two to three hundred dives per year, you can expect this particular dive computer to last for about three years. In fact, the battery will need replacing just after this point.
Getting the battery replaced can be a pain, but compared to other computers and similar products alongside, this unit’s reliable fortitude more than makes up for the muddle. The o ring seals for the battery should endure a fair amount of use, too. You can easily pick up replacements online if you need to.
The strapping on this device is great quality, too – it doesn’t rub, and it’ll pretty much weather any adventures and excursions you have lined up for it.
While it may not be the fanciest data cruncher on the market, it packs a punch with most customers in the sense you’ll probably never need another device like it.
Battery Life
Battery life on board the Mares Smart Air should weather a good two to three years on your wrist. It all depends on what you use it for. If you’re going to use it to perform complex tasks and other functions regularly, be prepared to get it replaced.
The extra perk with this dive computer is that you can easily swap out the battery yourself when the date for replacement comes around. There’s no need to spend half the day at the dive shop getting it unscrewed and refitted.
- Air integration option
- Easy to use
- Great value
- Reliable and trusty brand
- There are better computers out there
- Doesn't have a good backlight
FAQs
The Mares Smart Air does indeed work with Bluetooth. However, in order to use it, you will need to purchase the Bluelink Pro from Mares separately. This interface allows you to connect the dive computer and retrieve the data. All you need to do is clip the Bluelink Pro over the dive computer, where the Bluetooth connecter is found.
You can get the Mares Smart Air for about XX. As quality dive computers go, it’s a pretty reasonable price! This is a fantastic little gadget that will really work for its money.
Sadly, no – one of the Mares Smart Air’s biggest downfalls is that it doesn’t have a dive compass. For the price of this level of dive computer, a basic compass would have been appreciated!
This introduction made it onto a number of my lists, being labelled as the best computer on a budget. The new version of the Mares computer also comes with air integration, putting it alongside some of the best computers with wireless transmitters.
